Correspondence to Author: Omar Abdelazim ¹ , Alshymaa A Hassnine ¹ , Fatma M M Kamel ² , Nehal Abbas ³ , Zienab M. Saad ¹ , Haitham A Mahmoud ¹ , Safaa M Abdelhalim ¹. 

1. Department of Gastroenterology Hepatology and Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Minia, Egypt.
2. Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Minia, Egypt.
3. Derartment of clinical pathology, faculty of medicine, Minia university, Minia, Egypt.

Abstract:

Background: The prevalence of Functional dyspepsia (FD) in chronic HCV (Hepatitis C virus) patients, as defined by the Rome IV criteria, is unknown despite the frequent association between gastrointestinal symptoms and HCV. Aim: We aimed to evaluate prevalence of functional dyspepsia according to Rome IV criteria in chronic HCV patients and investigate the risk factors for FD in those patients.
Methods: Our study involved 962 individuals (556 chronic HCV patients and 406 healthy controls). All individuals were subjected to a complete medical history, clinical examination, basic investigations, and Rome IV diagnostic questionnaire. HCV patients were diagnosed by HCV RNA PCR (polymerase chain reaction) and underwent shear wave elastography for non-invasive estimation of fibrosis. Upper gastrointestinal tract (GIT) endoscopy was done for patients only.
Statistical Analysis: Measures of central tendency and deviation were employed to describe the data as tables (Mean, SD, median, range, %difference, etc.) and graphs (boxplots, etc.)
Results:FD was significantly higher in chronic HCV patients than normal controls (78.8% vs 54.7%, respectively) (p = 0.001). The postprandial distention syndrome (PDS) subtype was the predominant type in both groups, accounting for 65.1% in the HCV group and 62.6% in the control group. No statistically significant differences were found between HCV patients with FD and those without in ALT levels (p = 0.396), fibrosis score (p = 0.157), or viral load as measured by HCV RNA PCR (p = 0.325). A multivariate regression analysis revealed a significant association between male gender and FD (OR: 2.289, p = 0.047)
Conclusion: FD is associated with chronic hepatitis C with a relatively high prevalence with a predominant PDS subtype. Male HCV patients are more likely to have FD.

Keywords: Functional dyspepsia, ROME IV, Hepatitis C virus.

Citation:

Dr. Alshymaa A Hassnine, Functional Dyspepsia Prevalence Among Egyptian Chronic Hepatitis C Patients Using Rome lV Questionnaire. Japanese Journal of Gastroenterology 2025.